A PAEADISE OP .FERNS. 



Rhine ; ' for the Dart is the only English river 

 which can claim, with its intended significance, 

 that distinctive title. 



Prom the brow of a hill whose summit, about a 

 mile from the town, commands a magnificent 

 prospect of hill, dale, and river, two lanes run, 

 uniting in a point at the hill-top, but spreading 

 away from each other as they sweep downwards 

 towards the river's brink. 



On leaving the town in the vicinity of the Quay 

 the road turns round to the right, passes between 

 high, moss-covered walls, and, after a short and 

 sharp ascent for a few yards, suddenly wheels 

 round to the left, and narrows into the dimensions 

 of a lane. Turning for a moment before con- 

 tinuing the ascent, we get a lovely peep of the 

 cluster of houses lying just a little below us, with 

 the church tower rising from their midst. 



Now wending upwards the path narrows 

 still more between high hedges which rise on each 

 side. Two or three more graceful bendings to 

 right and to left, and then our lane suddenly 

 widens as if to invite the tourist to pause in his 

 ascent, and turn round. 



79 



